Paleomicrobiology - Past Human Infections

First book devoted to the topics of paleomicrobiology, an emerging field of research at the cross-point of microbiology, history and anthropology

"Paleomicrobiology – Past Human Infections" features the methods and main achievements in this emerging field of research at the intersection of microbiology and evolution, history and anthropology. New molecular approaches have already provided exciting results, such as confirmation of a single biotype of Yersinia pestis as the causative agent of historical plague pandemics, and the closer proximity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from ancient skeletons to modern strains than to Mycobacterium bovis, shedding new light on the evolution of major human pathogens and pathogen–population relationships. Firm microbiological diagnoses also provide historians and anthropologists with new data on which to base evaluation of past epidemics.

Table of Contents

Great Plagues of the Past and Remaining Questionsp. 1The Techniques and Methods
Identification and Interpretation of Historical Cemeteries Linked to Epidemicsp. 23Archaeological Proof of an Abrupt Mortality Crisis: Simultaneous Deposit of Cadavers, Simultaneous Deaths?p. 49Molecular Detection of Past Pathogensp. 55Histologic Detection of Past Pathogensp. 69Ancient Microorganisms Bacteria
Palaeomicrobiology of Tuberculosisp. 75Past Lepraep. 99Archaeology of Human Pathogens: Palaeopathological Appraisal of Palaeoepidemiologyp. 125Past Plaguep. 145Typhoid Fever Epidemic in Ancient Athensp. 161Dental Pulp as a Tool for the Retrospective Diagnosis of Infectious Diseasesp. 175Viruses
History of Influenza Pandemicsp. 199Parasites
Human lice: Pediculus and Pthirusp. 215Indexp. 223Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.